"How is it?"
"It's nice... not as bitter as I expected."
"That's because it's not burnt, haha! I'm glad you like it- there's plenty more if you want, have as much as you like."

Torahiko's tail was curved up so the tip was visible over his shoulder, more than the broad smile on his face Kouya could tell from that he'd made the big yellow tiger so very happy. He couldn't help but smile back, the guy really was so proud of his cooking, even of things people thought of as 'simple,' like a cup of coffee. But it was true; Kouya was used to either whatever came out of his machine at home, or from vending machines in town. In either case he'd assumed intense bitterness was an unavoidable part of the experience... but Torahiko's coffee wasn't bitter. It was smooth, savory and a bit nutty, and delightfully fragrant. The slender gray husky took a long sip with an appreciative hum.

"Mmm... that really is nice."
"Hehe. If you like it that much, maybe you should come by and get your coffee from me more often?" the tiger teased in reply. Kouya arched a brow and smirked.

"Oh yeah? Should I start my morning at your house every day? That's an interesting way to make a proposal, Torahiko." Kouya teased back. He wanted to fluster the tiger, to see him turn bright red and watch his tail lash around as he realized what he may have accidentally implied. It was the kind of joke Torahiko would make himself under the right circumstances, with the right people... generally not with Kouya, though. He liked to make that with Tatsuki, or with Kounosuke- and Hiroyuki, on the occasions when he visited. But Kouya? No, they spent too much time ribbing each other and criticizing each other for Torahiko to do so with him, or so Kouya assumed. It made him a very easy target for the same kind of humor... or so Kouya thought.

Torahiko's tail did go stiff, and his eyes did go wide. He turned red even, just as Kouya had imagined. But it was the husky who was caught off guard when Torahiko dropped his eyes to the side and replied: "I mean... that wouldn't be so bad, would it?"

Kouya's entire train of thought had been derailed. He studied his long time friend, trying to suss out what had just happened, not to mention reconstruct the conversation they'd just had. Surely, this big muscular guy (beautiful too really), this unrepentant prankster (but then he always apologized and made sure they were actually ok afterwards...), this bright eyed blushing tiger (he would smile any second now, right? reveal it was another joke any second... right?)... he couldn't be serious. Could he? Those lovely blue eyes met Kouya's own sharp yellow eyes, nervous, waiting... and in that minute Kouya knew for certain: No, that had been serious. Torahiko had just taken a shot, now Kouya had to answer. What should he say-? But if he were honest, he knew what his first urge was. Torahiko had gone out on a limb, taken all the risk. Kouya's part was easier, he just had to say what he felt.

"... No. I don't think it would be."

Torahiko sank a bit, looked like he might tremble, and started speaking right after Kouya. "Oh. Heh, I guess that makes- wait." and then he looked up again, holding Kouya's gaze with renewed attention. His bushy eyebrows looked like they might leap right of his face they climbed so high. "Did you just say-?"

Kouya could feel his face heating up. Why did he have to assume the worst right away? And why did it make him look so damn cute when he put things together?? Kouya cleared his throat and tried again: "I said, that doesn't sound so bad. Not bad at all really. If you're asking me seriously... maybe we should start slow, before I actually start sleeping here? Maybe we could catch a movie together soon, just you and me?"

"...!" Torahiko's tail had shot straight up and his whole body had gone stiff. But he was smiling too- shocked, obviously, but also, "yes!! That sounds great!" It couldn't be more obvious how happy he was. Kouya sighed and smiled, he could feel his tail swinging in a lazy, wide arc behind himself. Torahiko was such a dork... it made Kouya's heart pound in the best way.